Nigeria, Angola to strengthen aviation ties

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo

In a move to strengthen aviation ties between Nigeria and Angola, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, hosted the Angolan Ambassador to Nigeria, José Bamoquina Zau, and his deputy, Nelson Kafikiri, at his office in Abuja yesterday.

The Aviation Minister’s Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday.

Ambassador Zau provided updates on the progress made in Angola’s aviation sector, highlighting the completion of a major overhaul of its airport infrastructure.

“The Honourable Minister of Transport is keen to build synergy between both nations and is eager to tap into the wealth of experience of Nigeria’s aviation leadership,” said Ambassador Zau.

He announced that Angola’s new airport, which is set to serve as a strategic hub for the region, will be officially inaugurated in one month’s time.

Conveying a message from Angola’s Minister of Transport, Ricardo de Abreu, Ambassador Zau extended warm greetings and expressed Angola’s eagerness to collaborate closely with Nigeria.

In addition, Ambassador Zau extended an official invitation from Minister Ricardo de Abreu for Minister Keyamo to attend the grand opening of Angola’s new airport next month.

He stressed that deeper cooperation between the two nations could yield significant benefits, particularly in aviation business and infrastructure development.

For his part, Keyamo responded positively to the visit, congratulating the Angolan government on its impressive achievements in aviation infrastructure.

He expressed his commitment to attend the inauguration of the new airport and emphasised Nigeria’s readiness to collaborate closely with Angola to improve air connectivity and explore new business ventures.

“To ensure seamless coordination ahead of the event, the Aviation Minister has constituted a technical committee to work with the Angolan Embassy’s team. The committee will oversee logistics and help solidify plans for the Minister’s visit and potential areas of collaboration.

“The meeting underscores the continued commitment of both nations to expand their aviation sectors and work towards a prosperous and mutually beneficial relationship,” the statement partly read.